Kwabena Appiah

needs to stop running into the corner all the time, he is young got a lot of room for improvement will be interesting to see how his career pans out.

held onto the ball just a bit to long but played pretty well in the grand final gave us plenty of chances

I think Kubi needs to put the tricks away for a while. Use his speed in an effective manner. Communicate with his right back in a more effective manner. He is being caught out in defence and losing the ball too easily in attack. At best he is still an impact player off the bench. I think Popa playing him in the GF was a mistake. Mariners were tearing our right hand side apart.

Big year this year for Kubi to show some maturity and football smarts.

I hate when someone posts in WSW player threads, I always think they're leaving the club or something..

but yes, would love to see him have more game time and develop a stable playing style.

I hate when someone posts in WSW player threads, I always think they're leaving the club or something..  but yes, would love to see him have more game time and develop a stable playing style.

I hate when someone posts in WSW player threads, I always think they're leaving the club or something..  but yes, would love to see him have more game time and develop a stable playing style.

I just posted about Kubi because he is probably the one player that I think needs to sit down and have a really long hard look at his game. He needs to play a lot smarter.

I don't think picking him for the GF was a mistake, it was more that Popa's hand's were tied. Hersi was suspended and Minnecon was injured so he was pretty much the only option left for a pacey winger.

I agree that he needs to simplify his game though. Cut the mistakes down and then slowly bring back the tricks.

How long did we sign him for?

Edit : is in the OP

2 years

I don't think picking him for the GF was a mistake, it was more that Popa's hand's were tied. Hersi was suspended and Minnecon was injured so he was pretty much the only option left for a pacey winger.

 

I agree that he needs to simplify his game though. Cut the mistakes down and then slowly bring back the tricks.

He's the David Bellion of Western Sydney as in lots of pace but lacking the skill sets to take advantage of it.

We were getting ripped to shreds on the right in the GF because

a. Polenz was still half injured

b. Kwabs/Polenz combo isn't as great as the Polenz/Hersi combo

Polenz was caught out of position all game and somehow CCM were getting an overlap and finding heaps of space down their left flank all game. For the entire season he was arguably the best RB in the league. So I wouldn't put it purely on Kwabs' inclusion in the starting XI.

We were getting ripped to shreds on the right in the GF because

a. Polenz was still half injured

b. Kwabs/Polenz combo isn't as great as the Polenz/Hersi combo

 

Polenz was caught out of position all game and somehow CCM were getting an overlap and finding heaps of space down their left flank all game. For the entire season he was arguably the best RB in the league. So I wouldn't put it purely on Kwabs' inclusion in the starting XI.

Polenz was getting caught out because he was defending two men coming at him. I was on that side in first half of the grand final and you could see Josh Rose had about as much room on that left side as when Moses parted the Red Sea. It was Kubi's responsibility to negate Rose and also communicate with Polenz on how to best defend the CCM onslaught on that left side. He did neither very well. He did well a few times in attack, but that was about it.

But to be honest I just think Popa was outcoached by Arnie. Arnie really took advantages of all the weaknesses we had and CCM clearly were the better team on the day.

 

We were getting ripped to shreds on the right in the GF because

a. Polenz was still half injured

b. Kwabs/Polenz combo isn't as great as the Polenz/Hersi combo

 

Polenz was caught out of position all game and somehow CCM were getting an overlap and finding heaps of space down their left flank all game. For the entire season he was arguably the best RB in the league. So I wouldn't put it purely on Kwabs' inclusion in the starting XI.

Polenz was getting caught out because he was defending two men coming at him. I was on that side in first half of the grand final and you could see Josh Rose had about as much room on that left side as when Moses parted the Red Sea. It was Kubi's responsibility to negate Rose and also communicate with Polenz on how to best defend the CCM onslaught on that left side. He did neither very well. He did well a few times in attack, but that was about it.

 

But to be honest I just think Popa was outcoached by Arnie. Arnie really took advantages of all the weaknesses we had and CCM clearly were the better team on the day.

 

I guess that game will stay with us us forever...thats not a bad thing to always have in the back of your mind though...There was a lot about that game we would like a re-do on..some of those bad ref calls..the clear penalty..a better striker..hell Polenz put a great cross in and it just sailed past a wanting DINO, like a thousand times before..but yes..we had weakness, Hersi out..(big loss)...we had already proven so much..kind of good now though..we have that hunger to get there again..that was such a special day forever etched into my good thoughts...The pub behind Fox studios..the amazing stadium experience the chanting...We were sitting...really standing all game much to the disgust of some behind..cant talk sense into idiots..why come to a game like that and not go for it..participate...much better..We will get there again, and when we do I will be there again, loud and proud no matter what the outcome..

But as for our friend 

I think we all see the potential in him..his unquestionable speed...just seems to lack a little maturity with a few things, which I feel under Popa he will develop..especially when we have a player like Hersi for him to model off..Very exciting year ahead..Does anyone else think we the first derby game will be a sell out...should be..ESFC and Victory will be stronger this year..we will need to dig deep and start all over in many respects..But who else but Popa to lead the way...

He's very quick getting to the ball but his decision making isn't the best.. Once he gets to the ball, he gets found out and doesn't know what to do with it.

Ultimately he needs to slow down, he's not playing u/18s anymore where it's kick and chase down the line.

He'll develop in the upcoming years

We were getting ripped to shreds on the right in the GF because

a. Polenz was still half injured

b. Kwabs/Polenz combo isn't as great as the Polenz/Hersi combo

 

Polenz was caught out of position all game and somehow CCM were getting an overlap and finding heaps of space down their left flank all game. For the entire season he was arguably the best RB in the league. So I wouldn't put it purely on Kwabs' inclusion in the starting XI.

I was at the SFS the day before and saw Polenz limping away from training, my heart sank a little bit then.

But as for our friend 

Kwabena Appiah-Kubi

 

I think we all see the potential in him..his unquestionable speed...just seems to lack a little maturity with a few things, which I feel under Popa he will develop..especially when we have a player like Hersi for him to model off..Very exciting year ahead..Does anyone else think we the first derby game will be a sell out...should be..ESFC and Victory will be stronger this year..we will need to dig deep and start all over in many respects..But who else but Popa to lead the way...

Being under Hersi's wing will do Appiah-Kubi wonders, and furthermore it was a bonus seeing Hersi play most of the season for us, as he was sidelined most of the past two years before he joined the Wanderers with two separate injuries. If the derby doesn't sell out at Allianz, it will come very close.

 

But as for our friend 

Kwabena Appiah-Kubi

 

I think we all see the potential in him..his unquestionable speed...just seems to lack a little maturity with a few things, which I feel under Popa he will develop..especially when we have a player like Hersi for him to model off..Very exciting year ahead..Does anyone else think we the first derby game will be a sell out...should be..ESFC and Victory will be stronger this year..we will need to dig deep and start all over in many respects..But who else but Popa to lead the way...

 

Being under Hersi's wing will do Appiah-Kubi wonders, and furthermore it was a bonus seeing Hersi play most of the season for us, as he was sidelined most of the past two years before he joined the Wanderers with two separate injuries. If the derby doesn't sell out at Allianz, it will come very close.

 

i see what you did there.....

he still has a long long way to go.

he is not A League quality yet.

Yes agree, Pup - I would use Tahj and Santa before him, more impact and more composed.

I like his speed and passion, but he is still playing the same as last year.

Always traps himself in the corner and turns the ball over, he would rather hold the ball and do tricks rather than pass.

Unlike Taj, he doesn't even know how to cross.

I agree with both Stokz and Pup. Tahj then Santa before him.

I like his speed and passion, but he is still playing the same as last year. Always traps himself in the corner and turns the ball over, he would rather hold the ball and do tricks rather than pass.Unlike Taj, he doesn't even know how to cross. I agree with both Stokz and Pup. Tahj then Santa before him.

I think Popa should try him out as a striker. He might be more effective in that position.

As in the Dino role?

He plays like a boss in the Dino role on fifa... Not that that has real life practicality but still that's a thing. 

What difficulty? I play World Class and I find he's best in the Hersi role. Basically just give the ball to him and let the 96 sprint speed do the rest...

Legendary. I play the ball to Hersi on the edges, make an inside run, pop an arial through ball over the middle, let the 96 pace do the job and finish... 




They also boosted his heading score real high up for some reason. Works well to pump crosses into him. 

As in the Dino role?

No, not in the Dino role. More similar to the way Haliti was used. Use his speed to get behind the defence. He is more dangerous in the forward line running onto balls heading for the goals. On the wing he gets pushed off the ball and disposed far too easily. If he is playing in the forward line he will cause far more havoc due to his speed and ability to take on defenders. Just a feeling I have.

no point being used in the Haliti role if he has zero composure and the chances are going to be wasted.

kids got talent, but he just isn't there yet.

no point being used in the Haliti role if he has zero composure and the chances are going to be wasted.

 

kids got talent, but he just isn't there yet.

This

I was going to say, he may have the pace but his composure is lacking on the wing let alone up front.... (and you can sometimes get away with not having all composure on the wing, in the striker role, no chance of getting away with it)

 

no point being used in the Haliti role if he has zero composure and the chances are going to be wasted.

 

kids got talent, but he just isn't there yet.

 

This

 

I was going to say, he may have the pace but his composure is lacking on the wing let alone up front.... (and you can sometimes get away with not having all composure on the wing, in the striker role, no chance of getting away with it)

 

To be honest I think there are less and less strikers these days who have composure in front of goal. Even Haliti missed a few open goals last season (mind you he did score some important ones). There are really no more Batistuta, Ronaldo or Alan Shearer type strikers where if you give them one chance they will nail it. I see a lot of misses these days even from the best strikers.

I just think Kubi's pace will unnerve defences and he could win us a few penalties being small, quick and nimble and dribbling through defenders. He probably has a bit more skill than we are giving him credit for at the moment. He just looks bad on the wing because he is not playing the position correctly. He runs it out too wide and corners himself against a bigger defender. He should be cutting in more. Anyway just a suggestion and I was thinking of only using him as a sub (not a full time striker).

On the wing he's trying to beat his man and is getting pushed out wide because even with his pace, defenders can corral him by sticking to his inside and making sure to match his runs.

If he played up front he could be attempting to break the line off the shoulder of the defender on the inside line. The central defenders could have a nightmare time trying to figure out how to play him, because if they play a high line he'll murder them through the middle because of his pace, if they play deep it just invites the rest of the Wanderers forward.

Kubi being played on the wing instead of being tried up front is probably my biggest disappointment of Popas coaching career so far. We have one of the best through ball players to ever play in the league (ono) and a number of other midfielders who can pick a pass.

love it how everybody is criticising kubi even though he is still VERY RAW at the tender age of 21.... bloke did alright in his few games when he played

yet many people ignore all the errors and mistakes that kresinger made, but fk it treat him like a God cause he does a fist pump to the crowd..... bloke shoudnt have been told where he went wrong on game day the guy is 30 something should have known better..... took the guy 10-15 games just to get adjusted lol 

i would loan out kubi for the remainder of the nswpl season let him get some game time under his belt and recapture his form